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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Welcome to Horny Hump Day! This is the hop where we share three steamy sentences from one of our books. This week I'm sharing a sexy snippet from my dark Regency romance, Bloodlust Denied.

The hero, Alexius. and heroine, Morana, have only just met but passion instantly ignites between them :-)

His lips closed over the puckered nipple,
and her gasp of shock only served to increase the power of his lust. Gently he
sucked on the firm flesh, when every throb of his engorged cock demanded he
plunge his fangs into her. That he drink from her full, temping breast, suck
her sweet blood from her, and satisfy this ravenous frenzy.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

I'm delighted to welcome fellow Ellora's Cave author, Tina Donahue, who's celebrating the release of her erotic contemporary romance Seven Sensuous Days, the fourth book in her sizzling Appointment with Pleasure Series :-)

Tina is also holding a fab contest - don't forget to leave a comment to go into the draw for one of her backlist titles!

Take it away, Tina!

SEVEN SENSUOUS DAYS

BOOK FOUR – APPOINTMENT
WITH PLEASURE SERIES

EROTIC CONTEMPORARY

Blurb:

At an erotic
auction, she’s his to bid on…to take…to command.

The night’s
sultry, filled with carnal promise as Tessa participates in an agency event to
raise money for charity. She’s chained and bared—as women were once displayed
for a sultan’s harem—her sweet looks and full figure offered to the wealthy and
powerful men.

Among them
is Logan. To him, Tessa is so different from his late wife, the seemingly
perfect female who cruelly stole his hope and future. Wanting only to forget
and have a good time, he wins Tessa, demanding she be his in every way
possible, engaging in all wanton acts, though not only for an evening…for seven
sensuous days at his secluded Virginia estate.

A
provocative proposal with such a dangerously virile man.

A week that
changes everything, with Tessa’s exquisite vulnerability and Logan’s suddenly unquenchable desire more than either bargained for.

Excerpt:

Music swelled, drums drowning out what had sounded like
flutes and a female voice trilling something. Blood pounded in Tessa’s ears,
muting it all. With her face lowered, all she could see was the purplish sheen
of her cape. She sensed the panels in front of her parting, the stage
displayed. Beyond it were a series of steps descending to a stone walkway
flanked with splashing fountains, which eventually led to the crowd…the one man
who was supposed to win her for an evening.

A full day was reserved for goddesses like Felicity. With
her participation in this event, Ronnie would probably have enough funds to
build a community college for young women.

She bit her bottom lip, and decided to hell with it. She was
going to take Felicity’s advice and fantasize.

“He’s dark
and dangerous,” Felicity had said.

His features would be masculine, strong, slightly rough, his
face shadowed with his coming beard. No, wait. He’d have a mustache and a
closely cropped goatee, that hair as dark as his eyebrows. His eyes would be
black, piercing, his skin a deep bronze, his lips satiny, his mouth full and
rich.

He’d move into her with a right given him by birth, as a
ruler. As a male. Looking down at her, he’d smile, shameless lust transforming
his features, making him seem even more dangerous. Sex would be on his terms.
He’d take her in any manner he chose. Orally, vaginally, anally, his strength
precluding escape, his stiffened cock demanding its due, all that she could—

Tessa’s cunt stopped aching with need as her hood fell away.
Or rather, Brian had pulled it back. Instinctively, she lifted her head, her
attention darting everywhere, much as she suspected a real captive would have
behaved, not knowing what to expect. A part of her mind recorded water spraying
from the fountains, the again-subdued music, rich and seductive. Ronnie’s voice.
The muted conversations of the ladies with their so-called masters.

Those men who hadn’t yet made their selections were quiet.
Tessa regarded each. Some were listening to Ronnie. Others glanced at Tessa’s
cloak, no doubt wanting it off.

With a flourish, Brian complied and pulled the thing from
her, then lifted her arms above her head, securing her shackled wrists to the
column.

Tessa stiffened at being exposed in every way possible.
There was no hiding her nudity or expression up here, not with the lights
trained on her. They weren’t fully intrusive, just enough illumination to
exhibit, making her the brightest spot among all the shadows and the torches’
flickering flames. The toasty breeze skimmed the faint moisture on her cunt and
licked her nipples, puckering them even more so that the tips appeared that
much longer. Areas Felicity’s makeup had accentuated.

Perspiration prickled Tessa’s neck. Her heart beat out of
time, the pose she struck both daunting and oddly arousing. There was
absolutely nothing to compare to this…being chained and displayed. A sensation
of delicious helplessness. Intense vulnerability.

Especially as no one spoke up.

Oh no.

Embarrassment drove heat to Tessa’s throat and cheeks. The
music played on and on. Each second crawled by while her mind raced. Would her
part in the auction stop when the piece ended even though no one had offered a
price? Would Ronnie call for an intermission then, or would she want to
continue with the rest of the event as quickly as—

Who? She studied the audience. A guy, forty or so, smiled
with kindness, rather than lust, no doubt sensing and seeing her uncertainty.
She offered her own smile in return, liking his sympathetic manner, wondering
if he was the one who’d bid on her.

No. He’d already turned to the server and was now pointing
at his drink as though he wanted a new one more than anything else.

So who had made the offer?

Another client kept looking from her to Ronnie. Others took
a moment to study the program, see who was coming up next.

That would be Felicity. For her, the men would shout over
each other, demanding to be heard, letting the money flow freely.

Another bid rang out.

Completely surprised, Tessa continued to regard the crowd,
her attention drawn finally, almost irresistibly, to Logan Kincaid.

She forgot to breathe.

Someone had relit the torch nearest his table. Its bobbing
light bathed him in a warm golden glow.

Tessa’s body softened.

Young—thirties or so, just as she’d thought—he wore his dark
brown hair longish on the top and sides, combed away from his face. His
features were rugged, deliciously masculine, especially his shadow of beard.
Tessa had no doubt those short bristles would be rough to the touch, a
wonderful contradiction to the silkiness of his lips, his generous mouth. A
man’s mouth.

Warmth sluiced through her again, the heat soothing this
time. Arousing.

He wore a beige blazer that went well with his tan
complexion, his white shirt opened at the collar. Decidedly relaxed. The same
as his demeanor. He lowered his drink…whiskey or bourbon…from here it was
impossible for her to tell. He glanced at his watch, then surveyed the crowd,
not her.

Ronnie took another bid.

With a neutral expression, Logan regarded the
man who’d made it.

Tessa didn’t bother to look. She focused on Logan.

Another bid followed the last. As if to determine why, Logan finally
glanced at the stage.

Tessa’s pulse pounded. Her legs felt watery.

His attention swept upward from the ridiculous shoes she
wore to her naked calves and thighs. He studied her exposed cunt and glittering
body jewelry for a moment, then continued to her bared breasts, viewing them
briefly before he at last reached her eyes.

Tina Donahue is an award-winning,
bestselling novelist in erotic, paranormal, contemporary and historical romance
for Samhain Publishing, Ellora’s Cave, and Kensington. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly,Romantic
Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. Three of her erotic
romances (Adored, Lush Velvet Nights, and
Deep, Dark, Delicious) were named
finalists in the 2011 EPIC competition. The French review site, Blue Moon reviews,
chose her erotic romance Sensual Stranger
as their Book of the Year 2010 (erotic category). The Golden Nib Award at Miz
Love Loves Books was created specifically for Lush Velvet Nights, and two of her titles (The Yearning and Deep, Dark,
Delicious) received an Award of Merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competition
(2011 and 2012). Take Me Away and Adored both won second place in the NEC
RWA contest (different years). Tina is featured in the 2012 Novel & Short
Story Writer’s Market. She was the editor of an award–winning Midwestern newspaper
and worked in Story Direction for a Hollywood production company.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Welcome to this week's My Sexy Saturday! Every week published and unpublished authors share 7 words, 7 sentences
or 7 paragraphs from a work-in-progress or an already published book.

Today I'm going to share 7 paragraphs of Her Savage Scot, book 1 of my Highland Warrior Chronicles. This is when Connor and Aila share their very first kiss :-)

“…spellbinding historical romance with a superb erotic read, which will keep you panting for more. ” 5 Stars A Readers Review

She
wasn’t sure she could reply without him discovering how deeply he affected her.
And so she inclined her head and offered him her hand.

His
warrior hard fingers slid beneath hers. Such a gentle touch from one accustomed
to battle. He bowed before her, his dark head so close as he bent over her hand
she had to hold her breath to prevent herself from burying her face in his
wild, Scots hair.

Lips
brushed her knuckles. So fleeting she could scarcely feel them at all, yet so
profound she felt his touch imprint upon her soul.

He
straightened and their gazes locked. Slowly his fingers slid from hers, flesh
against flesh. Every second stretched into a golden infinity, focused on the
sensitized tips of their fingers as they clung together, as though a force
beyond anything she had previously encountered enchained them.

Finally
they separated. Her skin tingled from their contact, as if they had just
enjoyed a far more intimate exploration of the flesh than an innocent, everyday
farewell.

There
had been nothing innocent about that touch. And as she watched Connor stride
across the room, a ragged cry of caution echoed through her heart.

If
she met Connor by the stream today, she would irrevocably alter the predestined
course of her life.

She’s headed for the big time…unless her heart gets stopped at the pass.

Forty-two-year-old single father Griffin Turner couldn’t have made it through colic and calving season without his mother’s babysitting services. But just when he thinks he’s got the hardest part of the infant learning curve licked, he gets devastating news. Mom is sick. And Griffin is forced to hire a nanny.

With nothing but twenty dollars in her pocket and her voice, Nola Brady wants to leave small-town Wyoming to pursue her dreams in Nashville. She answers Griffin’s ad to keep body and soul together until her big chance arrives. Love isn’t even on her radar…until she unexpectedly falls for the rough-and-playful cowboy.

Between the sheets, they’re poetry. Outside the bedroom, he inspires her to be more woman than she ever dreamed possible, which scares her enough to put on the brakes…and hit the road.

But if she thought he’d just let her leave quietly, she was wrong. Because hell hath no fury like a cowboy in love…especially one with a baby on his hip. And a ring with her name on it.

Warning: This cowboy daddy is determined to make a May/September romance work—even if he has to lay down his palm or his mouth on a round ass cheek to do it.

(Rated 18+)What the hell was he thinking? Nola was twenty-five if she was a day. Was her brain even fully formed?

But oh Christ, the sight of her stomping her curvy legs to the beat as she ripped through the notes of that song made him harden painfully. When she flashed him a grin, he focused on her luscious pout and his cock swelled another inch. How, he wasn’t sure.

The first two songs she’d sung had blown him away. Reedy’s superstar was an understatement. The girl could sing. What was she even doing in small-town Wyoming?

She strutted across the stage on those little red cowgirl boots, the frayed hem of her mini-skirt riding high on her thighs.

He had to get out of here before he lost control. He’d sworn off younger women. Nola was probably a student just like Miranda.

He stared at the dark strawberry blonde waves spilling over her shoulders and reaching for her cleavage, and he knew he was in serious lust. Lust equaled trouble. What could he do anyway? Take her home and halfway through hammer-f**king her over the edge of the bed, Lyric wakes up and screams for a bottle?

He scuffed a hand over his features, trying to wipe away the pounding need that must be evident in his expression. For an hour, he’d shirked his duties as designated driver, allowing others to shuttle people home so he could remain with Nola.

Nola. Her name tasted old-fashioned and brand-new at once on his tongue. A pretty little thing with tanned legs and a killer voice. What she was doing in Reedy, wasting those talents was beyond him. But he wasn’t ready to see her go yet, if that was her plan.

She threw her head back and held a long, throaty note that raised the hair all over his body.

Applause erupted, and he stuck two fingers in his mouth and gave a shrill whistle. When she scanned the crowd and sought him, his balls clenched up tight. That look held more promise than a man of his age and carrying his amount of baggage deserved.

Still, could he pass it up if she offered?

She jumped off the stage for the third time that night, and someone handed her a shot glass brimming full. Some of the amber liquid sloshed down her fingers, and all he could think of was guiding those digits to his mouth and sucking them clean.

Holding his gaze, Nola knocked back the whiskey.

He stepped forward and removed the glass from her hand. Setting it on the edge of the stage, he caught her fingers. She inched close, invading his senses with lush curves and the ripe scent of vanilla and arousal.

Perspiration dotted her throat, and he licked his lips, hungry for a taste.

“You’ve had too much to drink. I’m taking you home.”

“I was hopin’ you’d say that.” She waved at the redhead who had to be her sister, then pointed at him.

Griffin shot the sister his best nice-guy smile. No, I’m not a rapist or murderer. I’ll see your sister home safe. I just might steal a kiss or more if she’ll allow.

Heart wild in his chest, he wrapped an arm around Nola’s waist and guided her out of The Hellion. The brisk night air cut through the heat of his need, and he gulped the coldness into his lungs.

Maybe he shouldn’t try anything, just take her home and be honorable.

“My truck’s over here.” He waved at a well-used truck splattered with mud from the back tires and wished like hell he had something fancy for her.

She walked at his side, as steady as if she hadn’t drunk three beers and a whiskey throughout the night. For a little gal like her, that was a lot of alcohol, even spread out over a few hours. She could still sing like crazy even with alcohol in her veins.

By the time he guided her into the truck, he’d made up his mind that he wasn’t even going to try to kiss her. But when he got in and she scooted all the way over in her seat, leaning over the console, and threaded a hand into the hair at his nape, all self-control went up in a puff of smoldering hope.

“Where does a guy like you come from? I’ve never seen you in Reedy before.”

“I’ve lived here all my life.” His lips were inches from hers, and her breath washed over him. He studied her hooded eyes and the tips of her lashes, dark with mascara. Stripped of makeup, her lashes would be red-gold.

And the hair between her legs too.

“Hell,” he groaned and dropped his mouth to hers.

The first taste punched him in the gut. He snapped his arms around her, hauling her over the console and onto his lap. She clung to him, soft and willing female, her silky thighs draped over his.

He sealed her mouth under his for several seconds then could stand no more. He probed the seam of her lips with his tongue.

She opened to him at once. Her quiet mewl transformed into his croak of need. He trapped her face in his hands and angled her head to sink his tongue deeper into the sweet recesses of her mouth.

Pleasure-pain built in his groin, his erection throbbing against her maddening heat.

He bent her back over his arm until she was pinned to the driver’s door, sucking her tongue, nibbling her plump lips.

She wiggled and tugged on his hair, drawing him closer. Her breasts conformed to his chest as if she’d been made for him.

He tore away. Gasping, he stared down at her. She squirmed like a kitten under the gaze of a hawk.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…”

She twisted a hank of his hair. “I wanted you to.”

AUTHOR BIO:
Em Petrova lives in backwoods Pennsylvania, where she raises four kids and a Labradoodle puppy named Daisy Hasselhoff and pays too damn much for utilities. She loves to write gritty characters with lots of heart and is well-known for scorching, panty-soaking erotic romance.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Today it's my pleasure to have the lovely Maggi Andersen back on my blog, to help celebrate her latest release - TAMING A GENTLEMAN SPY, the second book in her Spies of Mayfair series.

Taming a Gentleman Spy – The Spies of
Mayfair Series Book Two. First book in the series is A Baron in Her Bed. While
my heroes and heroines make an appearance in each of the three books, each
story stands alone.

The third book in the series, What a Rake
Wants, is released in 2014.

Maggi

Released in e-book 4th December
2013

Released in print 6th February
2014

Blurb:

John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an
urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. Has the treasonous
Frenchman, Count Forney, returned to England to wreak havoc? Or has someone new
landed on English shores to stir up rebellion in the Midlands? After visiting
the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy
should never marry. And most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her
romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has
kept her close as a friend. And then weak fool that he is he kissed her... Lady
Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since her first Season
years ago -- when she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn.
Sibella's many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor,
but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has
approved Lord Coombe's suit. Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is
known to be the sensible member of the family. But she doesn't feel at all
sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss...

Review:

“With
clever insertions of secondary characters and several moment s of intrigue as
well as clever integration of history, this story manages to engage and delight
as you continue to turn pages, cheering and jeering connections and hoping for
that happily ever after.” Gaele The Jeep Diva

Excerpt:

Linden
Hall Yorkshire, 1818

“I trust we’ll bag a few birds on
the moor tomorrow, Chaloner.” John Haldane, the 4th Earl of Strathairn, glanced
at the guests enjoying the Hunt Ball in his ballroom. Bright chatter rose in
the warm smoky air as decorative ladies mingled with the more soberly dressed
gentlemen. “My chef plans a grouse dish flavored with juniper berries for our
dinner.”

“Excellent.” The Marquess of
Brandreth raised his glass. “We will be out at the crack of dawn, I daresay.”
He took Strathairn’s arm and drew him into a quiet corner. “I don’t wish to
strain a friendship I value, John, but I must offer a word of advice.”

“Oh?” Strathairn eyed him warily. He
had liked Chaloner better before his father died. The man seemed to lose his
sense of humor after inheriting the title.

“You are often seen in Sibella’s
company. Don’t get too fond of her.”

Strathairn moved his shoulders in a
shrug of anger. He glanced over at Sibella in her white muslin, talking
earnestly to Mrs. Bickerstaff. “Your sister is intelligent and good company. I
enjoy our conversations. Nothing strange about that.”

“I struggle to believe it is just
that. I may not be privy to the details of the work you perform for the
military, but rumors do float about the House of Lords. You must admit that due
to those circumstances alone, you would not make her a good husband.”

Chaloner’s determination put him in
mind of a robin with a worm. Useless to argue. With a sigh, Strathairn acknowledged
that he only strove to protect his sister from possible hurt. “No need for
concern,” he said. “I have no wish to marry your sister, or anyone else for
that matter. I do intend to ask Lady Sibella to dance, though. Unless you think
my waltzing with her will ruin her reputation.”

Chaloner huffed out a laugh and
rubbed the back of his neck. “Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t enjoy having to say
this to you, John, but it befalls me as head of the family. Sib has a love of
home and hearth. She looks for a husband who will sit by the fire with her at
night. That isn’t you, is it?”

“She deserves the best, and no, it
isn’t me, Chaloner.”

After
a fruitful day in the fields shooting grouse, Strathairn and his guests made
their way over the lawns to the Hall.

The gamekeeper, beaters and handlers
departed for the stables with the hounds while servants came to take the birds
to the kitchen.

On the terrace, Lady Sibella, in a
gown the color of lilacs, sat playing cards and drinking tea with the other
women in the late afternoon sun.

Strathairn mounted the steps,
carrying his shotgun over his shoulder, intent on returning it to the gunroom.
“I trust you ladies enjoyed your day?”

“We did, my lord.” Lady Sibella’s
sister, Viscountess Bathe, smiled. “Or at least those of us who have not lost
our pin money at whist.”

“I see you had a successful day, my
lord.” Lady Sibella eyed his gun with a faint shudder. “I saw your kill on its way to the kitchens.”

He smiled. “I hope you’ll enjoy our
efforts once served in a tasty sauce.”

He eyed the expectant faces of the
other ladies and held up his hands with a laugh. “I wouldn’t be so bold.”

“Perhaps you would like a cup of
tea, Lord Strathairn.” Lady Sibella gestured to the teapot a servant was
refilling with hot water. “You must be thirsty after your arduous day.”

She well knew how much he hated tea,
for he’d been forced to drink it at a morning call at their house in Eaton
Place. She had naughtily offered to pour it into a potted plant when her mother
was distracted by another guest.

Her playful smile was delicious, and
he couldn’t help grinning back. Aware of the sharp-eyes on him from around the
table, he shook his head. “I’m afraid I must decline for I’m not fit for
company. But, thank you.” He bowed and entered the house leaving them to resume
their card game.

Strathairn cleaned his gun and left
it on the rack in the gunroom. He’d enjoyed Lady Sibella’s friendship like no
other lady of his acquaintance. Her humor seemed so in tune with his and he
often found she understood his thoughts before he expressed them. Damn
Chaloner, he was such a stickler for convention.

Maggi Andersen fell in love with the Georgian and Regency worlds after
reading the books of Georgette Heyer. Victoria Holt's Gothic Victorian novels
were also great favourites.

She has raised three children
and gained a BA and an MA in Creative Writing. After husband David retired from
the law, they moved to the beautiful Southern Highlands of Australia.Maggi's free time is spent
enjoying her garden and the local wildlife, reading, movies and the theatre.
She keeps fit swimming and visiting the gym.

Maggi is a multi-published
author, and writes mysteries and young adult novels as well as her Georgian,
Regency and Victorian romances.

Saturday, February 08, 2014

I'm delighted to welcome back fellow Ellora's Cave author Lexi Post as she celebrates her latest release, Passion of Sleepy Hollow. And look at that sizzling cover!

Today Lexi is sharing the inspiration behind her book ( I LOVE finding out these things!) Not only do we have a toe-curling excerpt but Lexi is also generously giving away a copy of her book to one lucky reader who enters the Rafflecopter contest below :-)

Good luck!

Passion
of Sleepy Hollow: Origins

My
most recent erotic romance, Passion of
Sleepy Hollow, is obviously inspired by Washington Irving’s “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” But as my story is very
different from either the current television show (which I love) or the movie
made over ten years ago (which I didn’t care for), there was obviously a lot
more to it than simply the classic story.

Actually,
there was a lot more to it. I sprinkled in a bit of Brigadoon with the
disappearing village of Sleepy Hollow, added a significant amount of both hot
and emotionally charged sex and then stirred in a pinch each of superstition
and mysterious occurrences. I topped it all off with one and half ghosts and a
witch.

My
favorite part about blending these elements was discovering the details within
the original short story. Both black horses, Daredevil and Gunpowder are
authentic, as are the trees, the church, and the bridge of Sleepy Hollow. In
fact, in today’s current town of Sleepy Hollow, a fan of this story can
actually see the Old Dutch Church and the Cemetery nearby where Irving’s
inspiration for Katrina Van Tassel is buried. In fact, the town has an annual
Washington Irving festival in which a visitor can see the headless horseman
ride!

Hmm,
Irving was inspired by real life and now the rest of us are inspired by his
story. Pretty cool how that all works, don’t you think?

To
win an ecopy of Passion of Sleepy Hollow enter the Rafflecopter or leave a
comment about what you remember about the original “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.”

Always, Lexi

Excerpt

Her
blue eyes, so full of life, looked everywhere but at him as multiple emotions
crossed her face. He didn’t want the one that meant he irritated the hell out
of her. She was like a roulette wheel and he needed it to stop so the ball fell
in his favor. Lifting his finger, he replaced it with his lips.

Just
a gentle kiss, like the night before. But her intake of breath parted her lips
and he couldn’t resist. Not wanting to scare her off, he slipped his tongue
inside slowly to explore.

When
her hands came to rest on his waist, he deepened the kiss, moving his hand
behind her head to hold her in place. A tiny sound escaped from her throat and
his cock came to life. He needed her closer.

Suddenly,
she pulled away and stared at him. “Fine.”

“Fine?”
Nothing was fine. He wanted to keep kissing her. What was she doing?

She
brushed past him and opened the kitchen door. “Fine, you can stay. I need to
get my quilt and pillow from my room.”

The
door shut solidly, leaving him to stare at the wooden grain. “What the hell?”
He ran his hand through his hair and shook his head. Obviously, he had no skill
with the opposite sex anymore. His long abstinence since the debacle with Reed
had taken its toll.

His
blood cooled at the thought of his best friend. He should know better than to
get close to people. He was better off behind the screen of his computer where
it was safe. Kat was not safe. But God, she was fun.

He
opened the kitchen door and strode down the hall to her room, his room…their
room if he had his way.

***

Kat
closed the door to her room and leaned against it. Her heart raced so fast it
could beat a squirrel up a tree. Licking her lips, she closed her eyes.
Braeden’s kiss brought back all those wonderful feelings she used to have with
Brom. The ones where her toes curled inside her buckle shoes and her body
quivered.

She
crossed her arms over her stomach. She hadn’t had those with anyone else since.
Not even slightly. What was she going to do? She’d been desperate to get away,
and now he would be staying the night. She opened her eyes. Staying in her
room. Oh Lord.

Moving
to her chest at the end of the bed, she pulled out a pillow and threw it on the
floor. She’d already changed the sheets because he was supposed to leave. It
had been so hard not to bury her face in his unique scent. It reminded her of
the forest after a rainstorm, musky, comforting, making her want to snuggle in
for a winter hibernation.

Ugh,
what was she thinking? He was Stephen’s brother, a Newtimer, and he would leave
tomorrow.

Oh
no. The village would be long gone by then. What would happen to Braeden then?
She glanced toward the door, listening to the floorboards creak under his
weight. Quickly, she pulled her quilt from the chest and grabbed the pillow.

Too
late.

The
door opened and he ducked inside, obliterating the opening from her sight. He
stood stock-still, studying her once again. The lantern light softened his
features, proving how different he really appeared from Brom.

Straightening
her shoulders, she stepped toward him. “Your room is all set. I’ll just make my
bed in the parlor.”

He
didn’t move, and she couldn’t go through the door unless he did.

“Braeden?
You need to step aside for me to leave.”

“And
what if I don’t want you to leave?”

Her
breath caught in her throat as tingling sped from her head to her toes. She
swallowed hard. “What do you mean?” She turned away to give herself a moment
without looking at his handsome visage. “Did I forget something?”

The
floor creaked behind her and she stepped forward to inspect the water pitcher.
If he touched her again, she’d be lost. She turned to review the bed. “I assure
you these are clean sheets.”

The
door closed.

She
spun and the quilt knocked the pitcher off the table onto the floor with a crash.
“Oh no.” She knelt, suddenly wanting to cry, though the pitcher wasn’t anything
special. In fact, it had a crack along the handle and was bound to break soon
anyway.

“Come.
It’s okay.” Braeden’s hands on her arms helped her to stand and sent fire through
her already taut nerves.

Gently,
he enveloped her in his arms. Her heart slowed as a feeling of rightness
settled through her. With her face against his chest, she could hear his strong
heartbeat.

“Kat.”
The soft-spoken word came from deep within him and she met his gaze. “Don’t be
mad at me.”

The
loneliness she glimpsed in his eyes undid her. Before she could think about
what she did, she hooked her hand around his neck and pulled him forward for a
kiss. This time, she breached his lips and explored his mouth, tasting the red
wine he had with dinner.

Heat
pounded through her limbs as he pulled her tighter to his body. One hand held
her head to the side so he could fully devour her while the other cupped her
arse, pushing her into him. His erection pressed into her belly, causing
excitement to race to her core, which made it difficult to breathe. She held
his face and pulled back to nibble at his lips while she gulped in air.

He
bent and scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed. He followed her
down, lying on his side, and swept stray hair back from her eyes. “I can never
tell if you’re attracted to me or irritated with me.”

She
gave him a shy smile. “You mean that kiss wasn’t enough of a clue?”

He
chuckled. “You’re a very unique woman, Kat.”

“Is
that good or bad?”

“Oh,
it’s good. Very good.” He held her head and kissed her again, his tongue
tangling with hers.

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Triple ARRA Finalist 2013 for Favourite Erotic Romance

HER SAVAGE SCOT "Need to Read"

"With powerfully written characters that the reader cannot help but fall in love with".

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Steals & Deals - 0.99

BLOODLUST DENIED

"Sultry and seductive, Bloodlust Denied is both intriguing and romantic."

Betrayed

"... this book was fantastic!!" ................... "Tacitus is a wonderful hero, masterful and passionate" Tina, A Readers Review Blog: BETRAYED

"I dare you to put down Forbidden before you reach the last page. Compelling, passionate and fascinating." Anna Campbell, Multi Award Winning Author

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Archangel of Mercy is a 2012 ARRA Finalist!

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Captive

"Christina Phillips weaves an fascinating tale with an intricate setting and powerful characters, intertwining the deep emotional turmoil of guilt, hatred and searing passions in her latest erotic historical romance, CAPTIVE." Aemelia .............................................. "Readers will be intrigued as the layers of the story unfold." RT BOOK Reviews 4 Stars

"If you love not only erotica, but also stories with well written characters, and great historical detail, you won’t make a mistake by picking up FORBIDDEN." Lynette ................................ "Set in the time of the Roman Empire, Phillips’ wonderful story of the romance between a Roman soldier and a Celt is more than entertaining" RT BOOK Reviews 4 Stars